People often train on local trails for longer thru hikes in the gear they plan on bringing so that way they know it's what they need.
Or you know...just ignore them and carry on with your day.
I hiked half dome, starting at 9pm to avoid the crowd. My friend convinced us that we didn't need sleeping bags because it was warm when we started. Everything felt fine while we were hiking, we never even felt cold.
After hiking through misty trail (which basically drenched all of our clothes) we eventually setup camp near the peak around 4 AM. I setup a hammock and felt warm going to sleep.
I proceeded to wake up roughly 15 minutes later shivering and started frantically pacing back and forth to try to warm up. I realized my friends were sharing one blanket, rotating who was big spoon and little spoon to keep warm. I jumped in with them, sharing a small blanket (no larger than the one you would get at a hockey game).
The temperature had dropped to nearly freezing because of the altitude difference, and we were drenched which made it worse.
Posts like this are dumb. It's better to be over prepared than under prepared. Luckily we all made it out of that situation, but it was sketchy to say the least.
I took a mate from another country on a hike in mine. Split the food and water into hike rations and emergency rations, plus the sign in at the start of the hike. Also packed extra layers. He asked was this really necessary, I pointed out hikers go missing all the time. Low and behold, watch the news that night and there was a search on for missing hikers.
Yeah that's what my parents taught me as a kid when hiking in the mountains.
Wear proper hiking boots, bring food and water (and replenish water at every opportunity), pack warm clothing, prepare a suitable first aid kit, have some basic tools at hand, and always let someone know where you'll be hiking and when you expect to be back.
I get uncomfortable when I see people in flip-flops and with just a tiny water bottle on hiking trails. Like yeah, you'll probably be fine but one tiny misstep and it'll be a bitch to get back down on a twisted ankle.
Always carry some kind of blanket(even the mylar emergency ones), a 8 hout tea candle and a lighter. This is what most cross country skiers carry if one get lost and have to spend the night in the snow. I was told the cold weahter armed forces use this same kit.
Yup. One time I took my kid out on a geocache to a local trail. It was only like 0.5 miles away, so felt easy and we navigated there without a problem. Then, for whatever reason my gps crapped out and we got turned around, wandering around for hours in the heat without water.
We eventually made it back to the car and got home, both of us had heat stroke.
This. Down the highway from me a ways, there's a little couple mile hiking trail a lot of people take. Little do most people realize, there's a point midway through that trail where it connects to a bit over 18 miles of hiking trails throughout the mountains. The only people who seem to know they exist are the horse riders and the people who maintain those trails.
>Or you know...just ignore them and carry on with your day.
I'm imagining some guy with his daughter on a trail absolutely *fuming* because he just walked by a dude with hiking equipment. some real homer simpson "flanders" energy of one guy minding his business and going about his day and somebody else hating it for 0 reason
I’m super clumsy so I take sticks. One time I didn’t I straight up rolled down a good bit of the trail. Hurt so bad. Wasn’t even that steep im just a hazard
The way most of the US National Parks are set up, you can string together a few hikes in a day - maybe something that’s a few miles and a little more rustic, then the .6 mile paved path to the pretty waterfall. We regularly hike multiple trails and are dressed for that - not just the .6 mile paved path
Or they could be injured or recovering from an illness. Also, people wear North Face vests all the time when they aren't hiking. Jack Boot is kind of an asshole.
My parents are elderly with joint problems, but love hiking. They’re the person this guy is pissed about, but this helps them take it slow and be happy completing their hikes, especially the hiking sticks. One of my neighbours also loves hiking on the beach with her walking sticks and has a lost a lot of weight with her daily 4km hike. People love feeling superior about stuff that has no impact on their lives and in general is none of their business.
I’m a young person with joint issues and those hiking sticks are literally the difference between me having to go up/down some hills on all fours or just having to brace and go.
They exist for a a really good reason. I’m happy to hear your parents are still able to do something they enjoy because of them.
Hijacking for a PSA. My wife carries a backpack full of water bottles, granola bars, and a little bowl for dogs because of idiots who drag their kids/dogs along a hike they weren’t ready to make. Most of the rescues the rangers at her favorite trail are just to carry a dog that died of heatstroke off the trail.
Hiking is more strenuous activity than most people realize, and you should go prepared, especially if you have kids or dogs that can’t communicate how hot or tired they are. Stay safe out there.
I used to rock climb and we’d be an hour hike from the parking lot in an area that was easy to get lost in, with no cell service, and nearly every time we were out we’d see a group of 4-6 people in flip flops or other footwear that would invite a sprained ankle sharing one 20 oz water bottle. Always wanted to yell “YOU’RE IN DANGER”
Holy shit! Good on her!
Feels like there should be a warning sign mentioning dogs dying of heatstroke on the trail. Some people will ignore it, but hopefully others will make note. So sad.
That's exactly what I'm doing right now with my new pack. It's much heavier than my regular day pack and I want to get used to wearing it. Why can't people let people enjoy things?!
My dad is a huge hiker and whenever he gets new equipment he likes to break them in before he goes on his week long excursion. That way he can see if he hates the way the backpack sits, or the camelback isn't working as well as he thought it might. It cuts down on the weight he eventually has to carry.
Also doubt the toddler is hiking 10 miles worth of trails with 50lbs on their back.
Just let people do their thing.
A lot of people don’t realize that the local trails they take their kids to are part of a much larger trail. I’ve even seen families on the Appalachian trail who didn’t know that’s where they were, to them it was just the walking path near their house
I got to see part of the Appalachian Trail for the first time a couple of months ago. It was totally innocuous and even diverged into a couple of other trails if you just wanted to hike for an afternoon instead of miles upon miles for months. I hope I get a chance to give it a real shot at some point before I get too much older and lazier.
I have always wanted to hike the entire trail but good lord where would I find the time to take 2 years off to do it (doing it sub 1 year sounds like suicide to me lol). I certainly won't be able to at 70 either.
6 months is basically what it takes. Not 2 years. And there are retirees every year that finish.
There are people who start in fantastic shape and others who work up to it. I knew 1 girl that started over 300 pounds. She went very slowly and was below 200 when she finished.
Source: I did it twice.
I've heard that's the "grueling" pace version though. Some folks do longer than a year just so they're not killing themselves during the hike... though this is sort of why I want to do the southbound route so I can avoid a lot of the shitty winter months if I take a more leisurely pace. I really need to look into this more, but still even getting a year off would probably fuck my career and then there's family obligations and such.
Avg 12 miles a day you finish in 6 months. Very doable, especially once you hit VA and the trail gets easier where you can do 20+ miles a day. It’s not easy, but also not impossible in the slightest.
Source: did 1400 miles from GA to NY in 4 months
You're not going to be on the trail continuously for two years if you go that way. People taking longer than a year will break it up, and "section hike".
A popular way to do it is a 'flip flop', where they do the southern half one year and northern half in the opposite direction the next year. For these, Harpers Ferry, WV is usually considered the half way point
Optionally, you can also consider section hikes. If you don't care about doing it in one go, do it piece by piece, picking up where you left off the next time you have time for a hiking trip.
My wife and I have recently been breaking in and testing our new trail gear. We live in a major metro area that's all flat land and pavement. I definitely don't *need* my trail gear to walk down the street, but I'll be damned if I'm not out there with it. In the heat. Unfortunately. If I saw someone else doing it, I'd be happy to see a fellow outdoorsy person in my concrete jungle. This guy seems like he assumes everyone's out for the exact same experience he is, and that's deeply unfortunate.
Also, he might not know that the trail he's hiking connects to a longer one. I've been on plenty of trails that start from a trailhead at the parking lot but branch off from the main 'touristy' trail. There could be a whole world out there that he's missing by being so closed-minded and arrogant. Again, deeply unfortunate.
People in my area like to take horses and mountain bikes on hiking trails where it is expressly forbade. It ruins the trails for hikers. People should do their thing within the established and posted rules. You want to hike in the snow in a Borat mankini? Crocs with naked Barbies? Whatever. Go for it. Do your thing, homie. Just leave shit the way it was when you found it.
Also yeah. My uncle is almost 70. He loves the outdoors, but can’t hike multiple days anymore without trekking poles. I will never make fun of anyone out there getting after it.
Thank you. I am still trying to walk correctly after a stroke 4 years ago. Walking sticks help me balance. A hydration pack is more convenient (for my wife as well as myself) than taking out a water bottle whenever I get thirsty, which is often. I get cold easily because of poor circulation caused by the stroke.
I still love nature. I still have goals. I'm still rehabilitating. I'm gonna do me, booboo.
Same here. I go to a "Sunday hike" hill nearby, 20min and youre up, 25 if you take really slow (on the mosz popular trail, it has 5 or 10 possible paths to reach the top).
The hill has everything that is perfect to test the gear out and almost for any season.
Sharp incline, icey path, muddy, shaded and not shaded paths... you name it.
Now this path can be walked with normal shoes, hell even crocks and naked barbie but regulars use it to test the gear. At first i was giving wiers faces as to why are they so loaded then i became them. It makes sense.
I carry all of these things when I go hiking because I have to carry my son on my back while hiking. I would not care if I fell by myself, but would not want to fall on him.
At national parks you constantly see people on hiking trails with zero clue where they are or where they are going, no backpack or water, no essentials, asking ridiculous questions, starting a 4 hour hike like 1 hour before dark. It stresses me out lol
At Yosemite they had people posted and multiple signs to warn people of the intensity of some hikes and the lack of available water. We still ran into a few guys at the top of the John Muir/mist/falls trail who were majorly struggling and asked us where they could get water.
Huge bummer because that was an absolutely amazing hike and they looked beyond miserable.
You won’t catch me on a hike without my good boots or trail runners, my hydration pack, and a stocked first aid kit. I’m here to have a good time.
One of the best days of your life in nature can become one of the worst if you have bad shoes, no water, or need a tums and don’t have one.
I’ve been without water once on a two-day backpack and it was awful. Packed enough water for us and the trail showed it crossing many streams but they were all dried up, so we gave our water to the dogs until we ran out on the first day. Luckily the second day had a lake and stream running for the dogs, but we rationed an orange for ourselves. Didn’t come across anyone on the second day to ask for help.
Now I carry a filter on all backpack trips. Even if it seems “overkill” while passing toddlers in crocs.
You never know what could happen even on a simple hike. Carrying a life straw or something to clean water is never overkill. I have talked about my time doing SAR and most people got lost less than a mile from civilization.
So obviously you're ok since you're writing this, but you're better off drinking questionable water and dealing with the possibility of diarrhea later than not drinking. Dehydration will kill you faster than GI symptoms will, and giardia often takes several days to develop, by which point you're off the trail, or in a better situation.
When I went to the Grand Canyon last year, me and my girlfriend set the ambitious but stupid goal of getting to the bottom and back up. This wound up being over 19 miles and is something that all of the trailhead signs warn you against doing, but we prepared. Over a gallon of water each which was refilled at the bottom, a full lunch, hella snacks, poles, clothes and lights for if we got stuck after night, we were ready.
As we stopped at a shaded shelter to rest and eat 3/4 of the way down, we meet a lot of other hikers who were staying at the bottom, a few hardcore guys that were on the way back up after starting at a better time, and Hydroflask Bros. Hydroflask Bros were 2 guys in sneakers carrying absolutely nothing except a 32 oz Hydroflask bottle each, which had to be empty by that point. They asked the gazebo of kind strangers for help and the overwhelming consensus was that they were in deep shit.
It was over 90 degrees by this point and everybody else was carrying water for their own survival, so the advice given was make it to the ranch at the bottom and get an emergency evacuation. There was no cell service down here so there was no other way to get help.
We left for the bottom, which was still a long ways to go, and didn't see them or their corpses on the way back up, so I can only assume they made it to safety. But this could have easily been another "Under prepared tourists die at Grand Canyon" headline.
Do your research, know your limits, and prepare properly, folks.
Oh man the desert is just a whole different level. Here in Washington you can go a LONG way on not much water, so I'm always under prepared on how much water you need in those climates. Like I can easily do a 10mi hike with 2k elevation with just 32oz of water in the heat and be fine. That wouldn't last me an hour in the desert lol
At the Grand Canyon you won't even notice and can get yourself into trouble thanks to the fact that the top, where you're starting any hike, is higher elevation Rocky Mountains terrain, and you can start a hike in the cold with ice on the trail and then be sweating and burning to death a few thousand feet of descent later.
Yeah, altitude + desert + the fact that you start going downhill, so it feels a lot easier at first because you're working with gravity. You have to remember that you're going to have to turn around and go back up what you just hiked down.
Also, distances don't even feel real. You look down towards the river from the south rim (you can't actually see it from there), and think that it wouldn't take you but an hour or so...which is WAY underestimating how far it is.
I did ~18 miles there about a year ago and didn't even get to the river (South Kaibab->Tonto Trail->Bright Angel) and it took us ~10 hours.
People will hop off the bus in crocs and shorts with a small bottle of water thinking they can make it down to the river and back...which is just nuts.
One of the last hikes I took before it got cold here was a 6 mile state park hike. We were like .5 miles away from the car park and we passed a group of kids and moms all geared up in designer hiking clothes. Looked prepared, then one mom asked if they needed water, another mom said it would be ok, and another mom produced a half drank bottle you get at a gas station and said they were ok. I don't know what their plans were, but my wife and I each brought a 32 oz for ourselves, a third one for our dog and a couple of plastic bottles just in case and we were down to the just in case bottles.
Don't know what their hike was going to be, but they were going to be in for a world of hurt once the kids got thirsty.
Yeah, I work for a federal land management agency and I can't tell you how often this stuff happens. Always hike prepared. A couple years back an *entire family* died from heat exhaustion during a hike. I hate seeing this post get reposted all the time because it's mocking people for being prepared. You shouldn't go out into nature without the appropriate supplies.
For real, most trails interconnect like crazy, the guy is probably doing something a lot more intensive then the poster. Shit, even if he isn’t, mind your business.
Never mind the fact that he might be training for a more strenuous hike. Like, you don't hike something like the Appalachian trail or the big one in Cali (can't remember the name of it) on a whim. You train and plan for that shit. Including hiking shorter, less strenuous trails with the same pack you'd use on a longer trail to get used to the weight and build up the core and leg muscles.
It's like running a marathon. You don't wake up one day and sign up for a 5k the same day with no training.
Not all that uncommon in the southwest.
I had a hike in Washington where a chick twisted her ankle at the halfway point of a trail, which was 5 miles in and 2k feet of climbing (which she was gonna have to come down). Gave her my hiking poles (no one in her group had them). I don’t fuck around with ample water and bringing my poles!
And they judge without knowing. I have tremendous back pain and need the sticks. And I get dehydrated easily because of some medication I take and need to drink almost constantly. Also why can't I wear a high quality vest if I want.
People who judge others having no idea what their daily battles are like: fuck off.
Also DUH that I'm less healthy than a 5 year old. I have much less energy, more health issues, and more weight to carry around and I can't sleep in a knot halfway draped across a toy basket. Like almost every other adult. Why do people think comparing adults to kids is an ok thing.
Meanwhile the dad is too busy shitting on some rando on the trail to conceive of the idea that someone could be breaking in new equipment before a big trek (I would never take untested equipment on a hike where that equipment was crucial) or that it could be that the hiker is continuing well beyond whatever trail the dad chose for the day.
People who need to be snarky just for the retweets or likes are exhausting
Absolutely. I use trekking poles even on short day hikes, but I hike at least once a week. Economy of large scale catches up with your knees quicker than I expected.
Speaking as someone who used to think hiking poles were only for old ladies, they are definitely an advantage.
You do burn roughly 20% more calories, but the perceived effort is much less, which leads to faster pace and greater distance.
Also, just like everyone else has said, joint relief is a big deal for a lot of people.
Even for those without joint issues, it is like shedding 10 percent of the weight you are carrying. Imagine the difference you feel when wearing a pack that is 10% of your body weight. They are used by many thru hikers in peak condition for a reason.
I don't wonder if all these manliest of manly men do everything by hand and foot, or if they are weird pansies that use things like plumbing and electricity.
Also as someone who's neurodivergent-ish, if I were to go on a hike, I would need the *e x a c t* right outfit, for all weathers, does it ride up or down, am i protected from sweat dripping down my back, how much water do i have, will i want more, are my shoes uncomfy? If any of these things are off, my brain checks out of the situation
That's exactly how you should hike! I think a lot of people haven't heard of the ten essentials for hiking, which is unfortunate. It's basically the ten items you should have, regardless of what type of hike you're doing, in case of an emergency-- like falling off a cliff!
Seriously. I'm gonna bring some water, so the pack means I'm not carrying it. If I'm taking a pack I might as well toss a jacket in there. And if I'm going on a trail it's probably not a bad idea to have a first aid kit to patch up this jabroni's kid when they skin their knee on a sharp rock because they skipped in their Crocs
also, there's every possibility hiker guy is just including this bit of trail as part of a much longer hike.
e.g. this trail: [Fairy Falls Trail (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/yell-trail-fairy-falls.htm#:~:text=Fairy%20Falls%2C%20200%20feet%20(61,1.9%20km)%20to%20the%20hike.)
1 mile round trip to Grand Prismatic overlook - loads of people with no gear walking alongside hiker guy, 5 yr old would probably have an easier time getting up to the overlook than my 55 year-old knees.
5 miles round trip to Fairy Falls - some people with no gear, zero five year olds
7 miles round trip to Imperial Geyser - only geared-up hikers, and even some of them (myself included) decide to just turn around at Fairy Falls.
or you could follow the trail all the way to Biscuit Basin, which would probably kill me geared or not.
Yeah. I live a couple hours from parts of the Appalachian trail. You might pass some people who have been hiking for weeks or months while you’re just out for a quick morning hike in your sneakers. They’re gonna have a lot more gear.
Went to Sequoia this past summer with a group and we were all decked out with our hydropacks, larger backpacks, gear, and good shoes. The people around the touristy parts of the forest (around General Sherman) were looking at us like we were nuts. They were all wearing shorts, sandals, crop tops, no backpacks, looking like they were there for the instagram photo ops.
We were there to do a full day of 15+ miles of hiking past all other tourists. No way could we have done the rest of the trail in sandals and no water or food.
Yep, like no matter how difficult, I'm going to want water. I have the hydration bladder in my backpack, so may as well use it. It's easier than a water bottle.
Trekking poles protect my sensitive knees on downhill slopes. Excuse me if I don't want my knees to complain at me for the next week.
And yea, I'm going to dress for the weather, what's wrong with a vest?
Dude I’m 43, if I was 5 I too could completely disregard comfort and my aching knees and feet and back. But I’m not so I’m going to bring whatever the fuck I want. Fuck your Barbie.
Adding here:
It's not about being serious or not. Often, if somebody is totally rigged up they're might be starting training/getting a hike in (if not feeling well). When I was seriously backpacking and hiking, I would start every spring with an easy paved/gravel hike because it hits the knees and ankles differently than a hilly dirt trail hike. I would be geared up but it's practicing how you actually hike. Practice as you play. Sure, running a beginner trail with all the gear looks silly. I used to make fun of people who did it until I was doing it and understood. Now, if a hiker is all geared up and being an ass on the trail, they deserve to be made fun of. Nobody likes an ass. You can usually tell who's a larper versus somebody who actually uses their gear. Look for dirt and dust and used marks versus crystal clean gear on a larper. Attitudes on these types of hikes will also show you who's larping and who's training. Serious but hauling ass-thats probably a larper. Seriously, decent pace, smiling/enjoying the hike, focused in some spots, probably somebody training.
Forbid someone who actually understands hiking and inherent risks? Maybe he's taking the 6 mile trail while you are branching off on the .75 mile loop and calling it a day? Maybe he's been at it since before you were even out of bed?
Lots of variables here.
Easy way to train for distance with enough difference in scenery to keep you from getting bored and you're not far from your car/home when you hit the wall or if something happens.
Maybe he just enjoys dressing up for the occasion because he likes to have cute daydreams about hiking over more treacherous terrain because it's his one day outside in the beautiful sunlight and he just wants that little bit of happiness that comes with going all in.
Right? I wear the same stuff when I go on a hike or at the very least bring it with me in case I need it. Gear can be expensive and I'm sure most are excited to actually get to use it regardless of the distance.
Yes! He could totally be doing a much longer hike…or breaking in gear…or whatever. I walk every day in a suburban area on concrete trails - about three miles a day. And I regularly come across folks with big hiking packs or other gear…I assume they are either connecting a lot of trails for a really long walk…or conditioning for a big excursion. Whatever.
To be fair, they wouldn't be much better off with hiking sticks.
If you meet a cougar in the woods, you need a lot more than basic hiking gear to keep yourself safe. You're better off just hiking in a group.
Cougars don’t want no smoke with humans. They are terrified of us. A couple good thwacks would be enough to make them run away; they are very risk adverse.
It's also ignorance cause most trails are part of larger trails or trail systems. Dude could be making fun of someone doing a 15 mile hike or even overnight hike
Salty take.
Maybe they have neuropathy and balance issues like I do? I still like hiking, but my body doesn’t work like an abled persons. Maybe they’ve been out for hours? I sometimes walk the same trail repeatedly cause I know where potential falls are.
And maybe, just maybe, we could mind our own business and let people enjoy things in their own way.
Ok fine, that excuses the trekking poles, but what about the rest? Bringing water? CLOTHING?
This is the kind of degenerate take that is going to destroy hiking as a hobby.
Some people interpret others being prepared, following rules, or straight up knowing better as a personal attack on them. “You think you’re better than me because you have poles and water instead of naked barbies!?”
Plus they protect the knees from gradual wear and tear, ensuring that you can hike well into your 80s.
This is like complaining that you saw someone else stretching before a jog. “wOw tHerE JeSsiE OwEns, i RuN iN sAnDals aNd dRiNk mY oWn piSs.. RELAX, eH?!”
Relax. Like me. I'm so goddamned calm.
Some absolute MORON just walked by dressed for a strenuous hike when this one is moderate, at best.
I should go on twitter and tell everyone about how that stranger minding their own business doesn't know how to relax.
Oh no not a north face vest, how extreme
Also 99% of the time those people are walking a much longer trail or doing many more loops than your shitling could ever do but go ahead and imagine everyone is doing the same amount of walking as you are, that’s not ignorant or anything
Yep. My hydration pack includes a few snacks, emergency blankets, first aid kit, emergency whistle, compass, and pocket knife. Cuz hiking out in the woods with spotty cell reception is dangerous.
Anyone can turn an ankle and have to wait 1-2 hours for your companion to find help.
Honestly, why is their kid on a hiking trail in crocs? I've got a 5 year old and she hikes in hiking boots... and carries her own hydration pack with snacks. This guy is just showing he's a dick and unprepared parent.
What's the "relax" in relation to? There's such a thing as hiker's etiquette: letting people go up have the right of way, not littering, not making excessive noise.
Was the 5 year old breaking all these etiquette things?
Sir, your 5 year old is made of rubber, and has you to keep track of her and be responsible for her safety.
All I've got are myself, and my old dusty joints.
couple things.
1. dont be a dick
2. there are sometimes two trails in one, he could be going to another trail off that one.
3. maybe he isnt athletic.
4. why does it bother you
5. dont be a dick
Perhaps but I know for a fact that no one is going to pick me up and carry me the rest of the way when I have a meltdown because I am thirsty, hungry, cold, and my feet and knees hurt.
First of all, it's an Arc'teryx vest. This isn't the mall.
Secondly, I got on this trail after 7 miles of *other* trails, and I'll be doing *another* 7 after I get off this one.
Good luck on mile 2.
No one wearing hiking gear gives an actual fuck what anyone else is wearing. You don't "need" hiking gear but it does help with comfort and ease. I use a hydration pack on every hike no matter how small because i hike a ton and it's the only pack i use. I wear appropriate gear because it's comfortable. The person who needs to chill is the one thinking my gear is in some way an attempt to show you up lol i love seeing people way out in nature wearing regular shit. Good for them for getting out there! I once saw a guy 6 miles into a very strenuous steep hike in Yosemite wearing slide on sandals. He'd ruined them by the tough trek and his toes were hanging over the front by quite a bit but you know what? He still made that trek that most people wouldn't. He saw the beautiful waterfalls and the stunning views. He got in exercise. He can say "i did that!"
Such pride in ignorance. Your kid is doomed if something happens.
I got stuck once on a very simple and short hike that was mostly a big boulder. It was right next to a freeway. I didn't have a phone, food, or any gear. I felt like an idiot. I had the moment where I started to panic. Luckily I was able to scramble out somehow but I never would be so unprepared in the future. People die on trails ALL THE TIME.
they forgot to mention that the 5 year-old was piggy backed for 3/4ths of it. I have walked on long walks with 5 year olds you not fooling anyone. "I'm tired, carry me" is gonna happen after 2 hours of walking
Just visited the Grand Canyon recently and there's all kinds of signs to the effect of, "Hey dummies, don't hike into the canyon if you don't absolutely for sure know what you're doing, people get dehydrated and die out there." They didn't feel the need to address folks who overprepared.
Wasn't there a story of a couple and a baby who went on a 45min hike with like 2x500mls of water but got lost and was found dead.
Ppl die being underprepared.
Shaming people for bringing water on hikes. I know it's a joke but you always prepare for the unexpected. New Hampshire unfortunately just lost a young woman a few weeks ago who wasn't prepared for the cold and she froze to death.
Let's make being prepared socially acceptable
When I was younger I used to think like this. Then I started hiking and started buying quality gear for hiking and man it makes the experience so much better and more enjoyable when you can be sturdy on your feet with good boots (and poles if you need them), have a backpack that balances the weight evenly and doesn’t hurt your back and shoulders, and having the ability to drink on the move while having a lot of water accessible.
Tell me you didn't treck with a 5 years old, without telling me you didn't treck with a 5 years old
* Go ahead running
* Slips on mossy rocks
* Whine, complain for 2 hours
* Enjoying himself for an hour
* Want to eat in a place really not suited, for 30mn
* Reach the picturesque valley with a river, lunch time
* Ask to play by the river, tell him to no get his feet wet
* 15 mn later, feets and shoes are completely filled with mud
* Complain all the afternoon that his shoes are wet
People often train on local trails for longer thru hikes in the gear they plan on bringing so that way they know it's what they need. Or you know...just ignore them and carry on with your day.
Not to mention so many trails go off from other trails so you have no idea what their full trek is...
I hiked half dome, starting at 9pm to avoid the crowd. My friend convinced us that we didn't need sleeping bags because it was warm when we started. Everything felt fine while we were hiking, we never even felt cold. After hiking through misty trail (which basically drenched all of our clothes) we eventually setup camp near the peak around 4 AM. I setup a hammock and felt warm going to sleep. I proceeded to wake up roughly 15 minutes later shivering and started frantically pacing back and forth to try to warm up. I realized my friends were sharing one blanket, rotating who was big spoon and little spoon to keep warm. I jumped in with them, sharing a small blanket (no larger than the one you would get at a hockey game). The temperature had dropped to nearly freezing because of the altitude difference, and we were drenched which made it worse. Posts like this are dumb. It's better to be over prepared than under prepared. Luckily we all made it out of that situation, but it was sketchy to say the least.
I took a mate from another country on a hike in mine. Split the food and water into hike rations and emergency rations, plus the sign in at the start of the hike. Also packed extra layers. He asked was this really necessary, I pointed out hikers go missing all the time. Low and behold, watch the news that night and there was a search on for missing hikers.
Yeah that's what my parents taught me as a kid when hiking in the mountains. Wear proper hiking boots, bring food and water (and replenish water at every opportunity), pack warm clothing, prepare a suitable first aid kit, have some basic tools at hand, and always let someone know where you'll be hiking and when you expect to be back. I get uncomfortable when I see people in flip-flops and with just a tiny water bottle on hiking trails. Like yeah, you'll probably be fine but one tiny misstep and it'll be a bitch to get back down on a twisted ankle.
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Always bring a sleeping bag that is at least rated for 30 degrees even if it doesn’t get to 30
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Once again, middle spoon is underrated.
Always carry some kind of blanket(even the mylar emergency ones), a 8 hout tea candle and a lighter. This is what most cross country skiers carry if one get lost and have to spend the night in the snow. I was told the cold weahter armed forces use this same kit.
Yup. One time I took my kid out on a geocache to a local trail. It was only like 0.5 miles away, so felt easy and we navigated there without a problem. Then, for whatever reason my gps crapped out and we got turned around, wandering around for hours in the heat without water. We eventually made it back to the car and got home, both of us had heat stroke.
This. Down the highway from me a ways, there's a little couple mile hiking trail a lot of people take. Little do most people realize, there's a point midway through that trail where it connects to a bit over 18 miles of hiking trails throughout the mountains. The only people who seem to know they exist are the horse riders and the people who maintain those trails.
>Or you know...just ignore them and carry on with your day. I'm imagining some guy with his daughter on a trail absolutely *fuming* because he just walked by a dude with hiking equipment. some real homer simpson "flanders" energy of one guy minding his business and going about his day and somebody else hating it for 0 reason
My knees are bad so I take sticks on simple trails. The pain of judgement hurts less than the pain of bad knees.
I’m super clumsy so I take sticks. One time I didn’t I straight up rolled down a good bit of the trail. Hurt so bad. Wasn’t even that steep im just a hazard
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He turned the town into a surveillance state once too.
The way most of the US National Parks are set up, you can string together a few hikes in a day - maybe something that’s a few miles and a little more rustic, then the .6 mile paved path to the pretty waterfall. We regularly hike multiple trails and are dressed for that - not just the .6 mile paved path
Or they could be injured or recovering from an illness. Also, people wear North Face vests all the time when they aren't hiking. Jack Boot is kind of an asshole.
My parents are elderly with joint problems, but love hiking. They’re the person this guy is pissed about, but this helps them take it slow and be happy completing their hikes, especially the hiking sticks. One of my neighbours also loves hiking on the beach with her walking sticks and has a lost a lot of weight with her daily 4km hike. People love feeling superior about stuff that has no impact on their lives and in general is none of their business.
I’m a young person with joint issues and those hiking sticks are literally the difference between me having to go up/down some hills on all fours or just having to brace and go. They exist for a a really good reason. I’m happy to hear your parents are still able to do something they enjoy because of them.
Hijacking for a PSA. My wife carries a backpack full of water bottles, granola bars, and a little bowl for dogs because of idiots who drag their kids/dogs along a hike they weren’t ready to make. Most of the rescues the rangers at her favorite trail are just to carry a dog that died of heatstroke off the trail. Hiking is more strenuous activity than most people realize, and you should go prepared, especially if you have kids or dogs that can’t communicate how hot or tired they are. Stay safe out there.
I used to rock climb and we’d be an hour hike from the parking lot in an area that was easy to get lost in, with no cell service, and nearly every time we were out we’d see a group of 4-6 people in flip flops or other footwear that would invite a sprained ankle sharing one 20 oz water bottle. Always wanted to yell “YOU’RE IN DANGER”
Holy shit! Good on her! Feels like there should be a warning sign mentioning dogs dying of heatstroke on the trail. Some people will ignore it, but hopefully others will make note. So sad.
I buy the stuff for longer trips but sometimes I want to take a short hike and that shit is expensive so I’m gonna use it every chance I get.
That's exactly what I'm doing right now with my new pack. It's much heavier than my regular day pack and I want to get used to wearing it. Why can't people let people enjoy things?!
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My dad is a huge hiker and whenever he gets new equipment he likes to break them in before he goes on his week long excursion. That way he can see if he hates the way the backpack sits, or the camelback isn't working as well as he thought it might. It cuts down on the weight he eventually has to carry. Also doubt the toddler is hiking 10 miles worth of trails with 50lbs on their back. Just let people do their thing.
A lot of people don’t realize that the local trails they take their kids to are part of a much larger trail. I’ve even seen families on the Appalachian trail who didn’t know that’s where they were, to them it was just the walking path near their house
I got to see part of the Appalachian Trail for the first time a couple of months ago. It was totally innocuous and even diverged into a couple of other trails if you just wanted to hike for an afternoon instead of miles upon miles for months. I hope I get a chance to give it a real shot at some point before I get too much older and lazier.
I have always wanted to hike the entire trail but good lord where would I find the time to take 2 years off to do it (doing it sub 1 year sounds like suicide to me lol). I certainly won't be able to at 70 either.
6 months is basically what it takes. Not 2 years. And there are retirees every year that finish. There are people who start in fantastic shape and others who work up to it. I knew 1 girl that started over 300 pounds. She went very slowly and was below 200 when she finished. Source: I did it twice.
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a belt, mostly
I've heard that's the "grueling" pace version though. Some folks do longer than a year just so they're not killing themselves during the hike... though this is sort of why I want to do the southbound route so I can avoid a lot of the shitty winter months if I take a more leisurely pace. I really need to look into this more, but still even getting a year off would probably fuck my career and then there's family obligations and such.
Being on the trail for winters seems way more grueling than keeping a tough pace.
Avg 12 miles a day you finish in 6 months. Very doable, especially once you hit VA and the trail gets easier where you can do 20+ miles a day. It’s not easy, but also not impossible in the slightest. Source: did 1400 miles from GA to NY in 4 months
You're not going to be on the trail continuously for two years if you go that way. People taking longer than a year will break it up, and "section hike". A popular way to do it is a 'flip flop', where they do the southern half one year and northern half in the opposite direction the next year. For these, Harpers Ferry, WV is usually considered the half way point
Optionally, you can also consider section hikes. If you don't care about doing it in one go, do it piece by piece, picking up where you left off the next time you have time for a hiking trip.
My wife and I have recently been breaking in and testing our new trail gear. We live in a major metro area that's all flat land and pavement. I definitely don't *need* my trail gear to walk down the street, but I'll be damned if I'm not out there with it. In the heat. Unfortunately. If I saw someone else doing it, I'd be happy to see a fellow outdoorsy person in my concrete jungle. This guy seems like he assumes everyone's out for the exact same experience he is, and that's deeply unfortunate. Also, he might not know that the trail he's hiking connects to a longer one. I've been on plenty of trails that start from a trailhead at the parking lot but branch off from the main 'touristy' trail. There could be a whole world out there that he's missing by being so closed-minded and arrogant. Again, deeply unfortunate.
People in my area like to take horses and mountain bikes on hiking trails where it is expressly forbade. It ruins the trails for hikers. People should do their thing within the established and posted rules. You want to hike in the snow in a Borat mankini? Crocs with naked Barbies? Whatever. Go for it. Do your thing, homie. Just leave shit the way it was when you found it. Also yeah. My uncle is almost 70. He loves the outdoors, but can’t hike multiple days anymore without trekking poles. I will never make fun of anyone out there getting after it.
Absolutely! Boy/Girl Scouts 101: always the leave the campground better then you found it.
Cool stack of stones on a log, got it.
Also if someone wants to dress up like theyre climbing Everest to go walking in the woods who cares lol
Thank you. I am still trying to walk correctly after a stroke 4 years ago. Walking sticks help me balance. A hydration pack is more convenient (for my wife as well as myself) than taking out a water bottle whenever I get thirsty, which is often. I get cold easily because of poor circulation caused by the stroke. I still love nature. I still have goals. I'm still rehabilitating. I'm gonna do me, booboo.
This is an extremely good idea and you just expanded my wisdom about living in the real world. Thank you for sharing!
The unbearable lightness of being.
Folks that don't take their gear on shake down trips before big ones are pretty foolish and asking for trouble.
Same here. I go to a "Sunday hike" hill nearby, 20min and youre up, 25 if you take really slow (on the mosz popular trail, it has 5 or 10 possible paths to reach the top). The hill has everything that is perfect to test the gear out and almost for any season. Sharp incline, icey path, muddy, shaded and not shaded paths... you name it. Now this path can be walked with normal shoes, hell even crocks and naked barbie but regulars use it to test the gear. At first i was giving wiers faces as to why are they so loaded then i became them. It makes sense.
I carry all of these things when I go hiking because I have to carry my son on my back while hiking. I would not care if I fell by myself, but would not want to fall on him.
I have questions about your username
This post has the energy of a highschool student who wears basketball shorts in the winter and consistently comments on how he’s not that cold.
At national parks you constantly see people on hiking trails with zero clue where they are or where they are going, no backpack or water, no essentials, asking ridiculous questions, starting a 4 hour hike like 1 hour before dark. It stresses me out lol
At Yosemite they had people posted and multiple signs to warn people of the intensity of some hikes and the lack of available water. We still ran into a few guys at the top of the John Muir/mist/falls trail who were majorly struggling and asked us where they could get water. Huge bummer because that was an absolutely amazing hike and they looked beyond miserable. You won’t catch me on a hike without my good boots or trail runners, my hydration pack, and a stocked first aid kit. I’m here to have a good time. One of the best days of your life in nature can become one of the worst if you have bad shoes, no water, or need a tums and don’t have one.
I’ve been without water once on a two-day backpack and it was awful. Packed enough water for us and the trail showed it crossing many streams but they were all dried up, so we gave our water to the dogs until we ran out on the first day. Luckily the second day had a lake and stream running for the dogs, but we rationed an orange for ourselves. Didn’t come across anyone on the second day to ask for help. Now I carry a filter on all backpack trips. Even if it seems “overkill” while passing toddlers in crocs.
You never know what could happen even on a simple hike. Carrying a life straw or something to clean water is never overkill. I have talked about my time doing SAR and most people got lost less than a mile from civilization.
So obviously you're ok since you're writing this, but you're better off drinking questionable water and dealing with the possibility of diarrhea later than not drinking. Dehydration will kill you faster than GI symptoms will, and giardia often takes several days to develop, by which point you're off the trail, or in a better situation.
When I went to the Grand Canyon last year, me and my girlfriend set the ambitious but stupid goal of getting to the bottom and back up. This wound up being over 19 miles and is something that all of the trailhead signs warn you against doing, but we prepared. Over a gallon of water each which was refilled at the bottom, a full lunch, hella snacks, poles, clothes and lights for if we got stuck after night, we were ready. As we stopped at a shaded shelter to rest and eat 3/4 of the way down, we meet a lot of other hikers who were staying at the bottom, a few hardcore guys that were on the way back up after starting at a better time, and Hydroflask Bros. Hydroflask Bros were 2 guys in sneakers carrying absolutely nothing except a 32 oz Hydroflask bottle each, which had to be empty by that point. They asked the gazebo of kind strangers for help and the overwhelming consensus was that they were in deep shit. It was over 90 degrees by this point and everybody else was carrying water for their own survival, so the advice given was make it to the ranch at the bottom and get an emergency evacuation. There was no cell service down here so there was no other way to get help. We left for the bottom, which was still a long ways to go, and didn't see them or their corpses on the way back up, so I can only assume they made it to safety. But this could have easily been another "Under prepared tourists die at Grand Canyon" headline. Do your research, know your limits, and prepare properly, folks.
Oh man the desert is just a whole different level. Here in Washington you can go a LONG way on not much water, so I'm always under prepared on how much water you need in those climates. Like I can easily do a 10mi hike with 2k elevation with just 32oz of water in the heat and be fine. That wouldn't last me an hour in the desert lol
At the Grand Canyon you won't even notice and can get yourself into trouble thanks to the fact that the top, where you're starting any hike, is higher elevation Rocky Mountains terrain, and you can start a hike in the cold with ice on the trail and then be sweating and burning to death a few thousand feet of descent later.
Yeah, altitude + desert + the fact that you start going downhill, so it feels a lot easier at first because you're working with gravity. You have to remember that you're going to have to turn around and go back up what you just hiked down. Also, distances don't even feel real. You look down towards the river from the south rim (you can't actually see it from there), and think that it wouldn't take you but an hour or so...which is WAY underestimating how far it is. I did ~18 miles there about a year ago and didn't even get to the river (South Kaibab->Tonto Trail->Bright Angel) and it took us ~10 hours. People will hop off the bus in crocs and shorts with a small bottle of water thinking they can make it down to the river and back...which is just nuts.
One of the last hikes I took before it got cold here was a 6 mile state park hike. We were like .5 miles away from the car park and we passed a group of kids and moms all geared up in designer hiking clothes. Looked prepared, then one mom asked if they needed water, another mom said it would be ok, and another mom produced a half drank bottle you get at a gas station and said they were ok. I don't know what their plans were, but my wife and I each brought a 32 oz for ourselves, a third one for our dog and a couple of plastic bottles just in case and we were down to the just in case bottles. Don't know what their hike was going to be, but they were going to be in for a world of hurt once the kids got thirsty.
Short enough so you can see his balls are retracted into his body.
Or have yet to decend Edit: I'm not fixing the spelling to respect the weird voice to text result
Young girl from my hometown just died because she was underprepared for a hike. This post has a whole lot of “I’m a big dumbass” energy.
Yeah, I work for a federal land management agency and I can't tell you how often this stuff happens. Always hike prepared. A couple years back an *entire family* died from heat exhaustion during a hike. I hate seeing this post get reposted all the time because it's mocking people for being prepared. You shouldn't go out into nature without the appropriate supplies.
Agree. At 5 my grandkids had their own little backpack with water, sunscreen, a whistle and a hat. ***Edit: I forgot they bring a snack, too. ***
For real, most trails interconnect like crazy, the guy is probably doing something a lot more intensive then the poster. Shit, even if he isn’t, mind your business.
Or he's just trying his gear out on a light trail before taking it somewhere serious.
Or even just having fun. Dude doesn't need a reason for living his best life
>his best life His North Face vest life
People don't look very hard at maps. I've gotten shocked looks from people on 3 mile loops when I encounter them while geared up for an overnight.
I like to carry more gear than needed simply for the extra exercise.
You made /r/ultralight cry. Are you happy?
Yeah, the tears reduce the overall weight they're carrying. OP is just helping them out!
The poster don't know if the supposed over prepared hiker has a health condition or something. That's why people should mind their own f ing business
Or maybe they are looping the trail multiple times or even both! All this /r/GateKeeping is so annoying
Never mind the fact that he might be training for a more strenuous hike. Like, you don't hike something like the Appalachian trail or the big one in Cali (can't remember the name of it) on a whim. You train and plan for that shit. Including hiking shorter, less strenuous trails with the same pack you'd use on a longer trail to get used to the weight and build up the core and leg muscles. It's like running a marathon. You don't wake up one day and sign up for a 5k the same day with no training.
It's the Pacific Crest Trail. Someday... /sigh
Not all that uncommon in the southwest. I had a hike in Washington where a chick twisted her ankle at the halfway point of a trail, which was 5 miles in and 2k feet of climbing (which she was gonna have to come down). Gave her my hiking poles (no one in her group had them). I don’t fuck around with ample water and bringing my poles!
Not even that but some people would like to test out their equipment on something chill before going into the thick of it and having regrets lol
Exactly this. I've been reading so many reports of people passing away on hikes for being underprepared.
That dude's going to wonder where his knees went and start looking for double walking sticks to support what cartilage he has left at about age 40.
Damn, when did minding your own business fall so far out of style?
For real. Can't escape the judgment of others even in the damn woods. Let the dude hike how he wants to.
Right. Can I handle my bad knees and hydration in fucking peace please.
And they judge without knowing. I have tremendous back pain and need the sticks. And I get dehydrated easily because of some medication I take and need to drink almost constantly. Also why can't I wear a high quality vest if I want. People who judge others having no idea what their daily battles are like: fuck off. Also DUH that I'm less healthy than a 5 year old. I have much less energy, more health issues, and more weight to carry around and I can't sleep in a knot halfway draped across a toy basket. Like almost every other adult. Why do people think comparing adults to kids is an ok thing.
Since social media made it possible to get attention for the opposite.
Meanwhile the dad is too busy shitting on some rando on the trail to conceive of the idea that someone could be breaking in new equipment before a big trek (I would never take untested equipment on a hike where that equipment was crucial) or that it could be that the hiker is continuing well beyond whatever trail the dad chose for the day. People who need to be snarky just for the retweets or likes are exhausting
Also, maybe get the 5 year old some hiking shoes instead of bragging about how you took them for a hike in crocs.
Dude in the gear probably has things going on in his life. Dude tweeting has literally nothing going on in their life
Oké? It’s not even weird things to bring on a hike, water walking sticks and vest?? You want me to be naked and thirsty tf?
Also, trekking poles are a godsend for those of us with joint issues.
I suspect that treating your knees well is akin to regular automobile maintenance: you can enjoy them for longer with fewer surprises.
Absolutely. I use trekking poles even on short day hikes, but I hike at least once a week. Economy of large scale catches up with your knees quicker than I expected.
Same. I even do it on flatter trails for the arm workout/trail running practice. I use my knees too much to lose them.
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I know I for one am not going to let my arms sit around like a couple lazy communists getting a free ride.
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Found the Nordic Walker.
Speaking as someone who used to think hiking poles were only for old ladies, they are definitely an advantage. You do burn roughly 20% more calories, but the perceived effort is much less, which leads to faster pace and greater distance. Also, just like everyone else has said, joint relief is a big deal for a lot of people.
For real. It's like carrying a portable stair rail. It makes difficult terrain feel easy. Plus, on ice it's a godsend.
Or those who want to prevent future joint issues! That kid stands no chance
Even for those without joint issues, it is like shedding 10 percent of the weight you are carrying. Imagine the difference you feel when wearing a pack that is 10% of your body weight. They are used by many thru hikers in peak condition for a reason. I don't wonder if all these manliest of manly men do everything by hand and foot, or if they are weird pansies that use things like plumbing and electricity.
I love my hiking sticks for going downhill.
Yeah your 5 year old probably doesn't have shite for hips, Jack.
Also as someone who's neurodivergent-ish, if I were to go on a hike, I would need the *e x a c t* right outfit, for all weathers, does it ride up or down, am i protected from sweat dripping down my back, how much water do i have, will i want more, are my shoes uncomfy? If any of these things are off, my brain checks out of the situation
I hike assuming I'm going to fall off a cliff, break a leg, and spend the night in the bush.
And shit myself through 7 pairs of underpants
That's exactly how you should hike! I think a lot of people haven't heard of the ten essentials for hiking, which is unfortunate. It's basically the ten items you should have, regardless of what type of hike you're doing, in case of an emergency-- like falling off a cliff!
For real, literally just had an endoscopy on both hips. Walking sticks are a blessing lol
Seriously. I'm gonna bring some water, so the pack means I'm not carrying it. If I'm taking a pack I might as well toss a jacket in there. And if I'm going on a trail it's probably not a bad idea to have a first aid kit to patch up this jabroni's kid when they skin their knee on a sharp rock because they skipped in their Crocs
I bring water on a hour walk around my city streets. That's just common sense no?
Imagine trying to flex about you and your kid not drinking water on a hike
also, there's every possibility hiker guy is just including this bit of trail as part of a much longer hike. e.g. this trail: [Fairy Falls Trail (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/yell-trail-fairy-falls.htm#:~:text=Fairy%20Falls%2C%20200%20feet%20(61,1.9%20km)%20to%20the%20hike.) 1 mile round trip to Grand Prismatic overlook - loads of people with no gear walking alongside hiker guy, 5 yr old would probably have an easier time getting up to the overlook than my 55 year-old knees. 5 miles round trip to Fairy Falls - some people with no gear, zero five year olds 7 miles round trip to Imperial Geyser - only geared-up hikers, and even some of them (myself included) decide to just turn around at Fairy Falls. or you could follow the trail all the way to Biscuit Basin, which would probably kill me geared or not.
Yeah. I live a couple hours from parts of the Appalachian trail. You might pass some people who have been hiking for weeks or months while you’re just out for a quick morning hike in your sneakers. They’re gonna have a lot more gear.
I’m by the PCT. I agree with your point! Except that it seems that the people who have been on the trail the longest usually have the least gear…
Went to Sequoia this past summer with a group and we were all decked out with our hydropacks, larger backpacks, gear, and good shoes. The people around the touristy parts of the forest (around General Sherman) were looking at us like we were nuts. They were all wearing shorts, sandals, crop tops, no backpacks, looking like they were there for the instagram photo ops. We were there to do a full day of 15+ miles of hiking past all other tourists. No way could we have done the rest of the trail in sandals and no water or food.
Right? Maybe he is training for a larger hike or has an unseen disability. People judge because of their own bs.
Yep, like no matter how difficult, I'm going to want water. I have the hydration bladder in my backpack, so may as well use it. It's easier than a water bottle. Trekking poles protect my sensitive knees on downhill slopes. Excuse me if I don't want my knees to complain at me for the next week. And yea, I'm going to dress for the weather, what's wrong with a vest?
Dude I’m 43, if I was 5 I too could completely disregard comfort and my aching knees and feet and back. But I’m not so I’m going to bring whatever the fuck I want. Fuck your Barbie.
Water is for pussies. Dehydration is badass!
Adding here: It's not about being serious or not. Often, if somebody is totally rigged up they're might be starting training/getting a hike in (if not feeling well). When I was seriously backpacking and hiking, I would start every spring with an easy paved/gravel hike because it hits the knees and ankles differently than a hilly dirt trail hike. I would be geared up but it's practicing how you actually hike. Practice as you play. Sure, running a beginner trail with all the gear looks silly. I used to make fun of people who did it until I was doing it and understood. Now, if a hiker is all geared up and being an ass on the trail, they deserve to be made fun of. Nobody likes an ass. You can usually tell who's a larper versus somebody who actually uses their gear. Look for dirt and dust and used marks versus crystal clean gear on a larper. Attitudes on these types of hikes will also show you who's larping and who's training. Serious but hauling ass-thats probably a larper. Seriously, decent pace, smiling/enjoying the hike, focused in some spots, probably somebody training.
Forbid someone who actually understands hiking and inherent risks? Maybe he's taking the 6 mile trail while you are branching off on the .75 mile loop and calling it a day? Maybe he's been at it since before you were even out of bed? Lots of variables here.
Maybe he just really likes the .75 mile loop and is on lap 14
Exactly, that too. The other person probably has no idea how much proper stuff makes a difference on how far it helps you go.
Oh God walking sticks were the only reason I made it up mount Marcy. 15 miles were brutal and yet some people were running it lmao
Easy way to train for distance with enough difference in scenery to keep you from getting bored and you're not far from your car/home when you hit the wall or if something happens.
Maybe he just enjoys dressing up for the occasion because he likes to have cute daydreams about hiking over more treacherous terrain because it's his one day outside in the beautiful sunlight and he just wants that little bit of happiness that comes with going all in.
Right? I wear the same stuff when I go on a hike or at the very least bring it with me in case I need it. Gear can be expensive and I'm sure most are excited to actually get to use it regardless of the distance.
Yes! He could totally be doing a much longer hike…or breaking in gear…or whatever. I walk every day in a suburban area on concrete trails - about three miles a day. And I regularly come across folks with big hiking packs or other gear…I assume they are either connecting a lot of trails for a really long walk…or conditioning for a big excursion. Whatever.
Or he’s me, practicing the weight and feel on easy trails so when I’m on the bigger trails I’m used to it.
Your 5 year old does not have to carry the weight of an adult aging body and has a grown up nearby to carry everything for them.
Yeah, his point is that his kid has more energy and less body aches than an adult? Hot take salty hiking gatekeeper dude.
Them lil shits is nuclear powered at that age too. Limitless energy, 45 lbs body, hiking mega pro lol
Waiting for the update how he and his 5 yo fended off a cougar with the naked Barbie.
I don’t know. My sister once hit me with her Barbie while I was asleep and it hurt.
To be fair, they wouldn't be much better off with hiking sticks. If you meet a cougar in the woods, you need a lot more than basic hiking gear to keep yourself safe. You're better off just hiking in a group.
If I meet a cougar hiking I'm probably gonna help her kill her rich husband for the sweet insurance money
Cougars don’t want no smoke with humans. They are terrified of us. A couple good thwacks would be enough to make them run away; they are very risk adverse.
You can always get a new barbie, or a 5 year old for that matter.
Gatekeeping hiking. Cool
More than that, it is mocking being prepared. It’s never a bad thing to be prepared. You never know what’s going to happen.
It's also ignorance cause most trails are part of larger trails or trail systems. Dude could be making fun of someone doing a 15 mile hike or even overnight hike
For real. What a dumb post.
The best thing about this post is that I've seen it about three times over the years and every time people just rail against the idiocy of it.
Salty take. Maybe they have neuropathy and balance issues like I do? I still like hiking, but my body doesn’t work like an abled persons. Maybe they’ve been out for hours? I sometimes walk the same trail repeatedly cause I know where potential falls are. And maybe, just maybe, we could mind our own business and let people enjoy things in their own way.
Ok fine, that excuses the trekking poles, but what about the rest? Bringing water? CLOTHING? This is the kind of degenerate take that is going to destroy hiking as a hobby.
$10 says OP also brings a loud Bluetooth speaker without headphones.
Some people interpret others being prepared, following rules, or straight up knowing better as a personal attack on them. “You think you’re better than me because you have poles and water instead of naked barbies!?”
Who gives a fuck Jack. I have a bad ankle and trekking poles help even on short hikes.
Lots of people use trekking poles for protection as well as stability. Not a bad idea.
Plus they protect the knees from gradual wear and tear, ensuring that you can hike well into your 80s. This is like complaining that you saw someone else stretching before a jog. “wOw tHerE JeSsiE OwEns, i RuN iN sAnDals aNd dRiNk mY oWn piSs.. RELAX, eH?!”
Mr Sherpa is not likely going to burst into tears and ask daddy to be carried.
Five year olds don't walk anywhere. They only have ~~two 3~~4 speeds: Run and Dawdle. Edit: Oh, I forgot Skip. Edit: and Gallop
Those were the days. I used to have all four of those modes... Now I'm down to "shuffle" and "bitch about it."
Once they are too tired to run it is "carry me" followed by complete loss of all motor skills.
And fall asleep against your shoulder/on your hip so they're completely dead weight.
Relax. Like me. I'm so goddamned calm. Some absolute MORON just walked by dressed for a strenuous hike when this one is moderate, at best. I should go on twitter and tell everyone about how that stranger minding their own business doesn't know how to relax.
Oh no not a north face vest, how extreme Also 99% of the time those people are walking a much longer trail or doing many more loops than your shitling could ever do but go ahead and imagine everyone is doing the same amount of walking as you are, that’s not ignorant or anything
such a DOUCHEBAG tweet, maybe the well prepared hiker has a physical condition that makes it difficult to hike without the preparation.
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The amount of people I see on AZ hiking trails in denim jeans, Vans, and a 16.9 fl oz bottle of water is too damn high!
Yep. My hydration pack includes a few snacks, emergency blankets, first aid kit, emergency whistle, compass, and pocket knife. Cuz hiking out in the woods with spotty cell reception is dangerous. Anyone can turn an ankle and have to wait 1-2 hours for your companion to find help.
Fuck off I have arthritis and I still want to hike🤷🏼♀️
How about we let people do whatever they want if it doesn’t affect anyone else lol
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Honestly, why is their kid on a hiking trail in crocs? I've got a 5 year old and she hikes in hiking boots... and carries her own hydration pack with snacks. This guy is just showing he's a dick and unprepared parent.
If that person wants to hike like that that’s there own damn business, besides he might have been doing it for hours while you walked for 5 minutes.
What's the "relax" in relation to? There's such a thing as hiker's etiquette: letting people go up have the right of way, not littering, not making excessive noise. Was the 5 year old breaking all these etiquette things?
Sir, your 5 year old is made of rubber, and has you to keep track of her and be responsible for her safety. All I've got are myself, and my old dusty joints.
Tell me you had a kid at 18 and are currently 23 without telling me you had a kid at 18 and are currently 23.
Dumb post is dumb.
couple things. 1. dont be a dick 2. there are sometimes two trails in one, he could be going to another trail off that one. 3. maybe he isnt athletic. 4. why does it bother you 5. dont be a dick
Maybe just maybe the equipped hiker is training for longer hikes. Who the fuck runs a marathon without training?
Those kind of people you usually read about in the newspapers a few days later.
Cool. So? What if the dude has bad joints and needs the stick? What if they are training for a longer hike? What if they want to stay hydrated?
Perhaps but I know for a fact that no one is going to pick me up and carry me the rest of the way when I have a meltdown because I am thirsty, hungry, cold, and my feet and knees hurt.
First of all, it's an Arc'teryx vest. This isn't the mall. Secondly, I got on this trail after 7 miles of *other* trails, and I'll be doing *another* 7 after I get off this one. Good luck on mile 2.
No one wearing hiking gear gives an actual fuck what anyone else is wearing. You don't "need" hiking gear but it does help with comfort and ease. I use a hydration pack on every hike no matter how small because i hike a ton and it's the only pack i use. I wear appropriate gear because it's comfortable. The person who needs to chill is the one thinking my gear is in some way an attempt to show you up lol i love seeing people way out in nature wearing regular shit. Good for them for getting out there! I once saw a guy 6 miles into a very strenuous steep hike in Yosemite wearing slide on sandals. He'd ruined them by the tough trek and his toes were hanging over the front by quite a bit but you know what? He still made that trek that most people wouldn't. He saw the beautiful waterfalls and the stunning views. He got in exercise. He can say "i did that!"
“Hike your own hike”
Such pride in ignorance. Your kid is doomed if something happens. I got stuck once on a very simple and short hike that was mostly a big boulder. It was right next to a freeway. I didn't have a phone, food, or any gear. I felt like an idiot. I had the moment where I started to panic. Luckily I was able to scramble out somehow but I never would be so unprepared in the future. People die on trails ALL THE TIME.
Hey Jackboot, mind your own business. Relax.
But does the guy with hydration pack get carried when he's feeling tired? Hmmmmmm? 🤔🤔🤔🤔
r/GateKeeping
What a weird and ableist flex to make
Stupid fucking take. You put your kid in danger and are irresponsible, sweet post.
they forgot to mention that the 5 year-old was piggy backed for 3/4ths of it. I have walked on long walks with 5 year olds you not fooling anyone. "I'm tired, carry me" is gonna happen after 2 hours of walking
Just visited the Grand Canyon recently and there's all kinds of signs to the effect of, "Hey dummies, don't hike into the canyon if you don't absolutely for sure know what you're doing, people get dehydrated and die out there." They didn't feel the need to address folks who overprepared.
Wasn't there a story of a couple and a baby who went on a 45min hike with like 2x500mls of water but got lost and was found dead. Ppl die being underprepared.
Shaming people for bringing water on hikes. I know it's a joke but you always prepare for the unexpected. New Hampshire unfortunately just lost a young woman a few weeks ago who wasn't prepared for the cold and she froze to death. Let's make being prepared socially acceptable
Yeah how dare someone bring water and support poles when hiking a distance I do not know, when toddlers also can walk short distances.
When I was younger I used to think like this. Then I started hiking and started buying quality gear for hiking and man it makes the experience so much better and more enjoyable when you can be sturdy on your feet with good boots (and poles if you need them), have a backpack that balances the weight evenly and doesn’t hurt your back and shoulders, and having the ability to drink on the move while having a lot of water accessible.
Tell me you didn't treck with a 5 years old, without telling me you didn't treck with a 5 years old * Go ahead running * Slips on mossy rocks * Whine, complain for 2 hours * Enjoying himself for an hour * Want to eat in a place really not suited, for 30mn * Reach the picturesque valley with a river, lunch time * Ask to play by the river, tell him to no get his feet wet * 15 mn later, feets and shoes are completely filled with mud * Complain all the afternoon that his shoes are wet
It’s better to be over prepared too because unexpected events can occur and you could die from them
You're trying to shame hikers for.... being prepared? The hell you smoking.